'The Walking Dead' zombie serial game is killer

Marc Camron Rocky Mountain Gamer

Posted:
09/14/2012 05:01:31 PM MDT

Updated:
09/14/2012 05:09:49 PM MDT

No one ever said the zombie apocalypse would be easy

I'm really surprised serialized games haven't caught on. For years, Telltale Games has produced some great adventure serials, mostly based on strong existing movie and television properties like "Back to the Future," "Wallace and Gromit" and "Jurassic Park."

Telltale's latest effort, "The Walking Dead," based on the comic book and TV series of the same name, far surpasses any of its previous games and deserves to be regarded as one of the best original games of 2012.

Planned as a five-part series, new episodes of "The Walking Dead" release every two months. Each episode advances the story and gives players a chance to kill some zombies. Pretty basic stuff.

Telltale's latest effort, "The Walking Dead,"? based on the comic book and TV series of the same name, far surpasses any of its previous games and deserves to be regarded as one of the best original games of 2012. (Telltale Games)
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But it's not the action that makes "The Walking Dead" stand out. Much like the comic and TV series, it's the story.

Episode one, "A New Day," introduces us to Lee Everett, a convicted murderer on his way to prison. Next thing you know, a zombie apocalypse breaks out and Everett finds himself a free man, working with a group of survivors to ... well ... survive.

The story runs parallel to the one featuring Rick Grimes and his group of survivors, offering a different perspective and different events than those we're familiar with.

Having a new cast of characters works well, since it gives players a blank slate to create their own stories. Throughout the game, Everett must make choices, usually by having conversations with others, and your choices have consequences that resonate throughout all five episodes.

Oftentimes the decisions you make mean life and death, and there's nothing you can do about it. While a game like "Mass Effect" might give you the choice of life or death, with "Walking Dead," the question is, "Do I let person A die, or person B?"

The experience can be gut wrenching, especially as you come to know and like the characters, but no one ever said the zombie apocalypse would be easy. Fans of the series know that few characters are ever "safe."

Unlike other zombie games, such as "Dead Island" or "Dead Rising," "Walking Dead" is more thoughtful, spending a lot of time on story and character development. By the end of episode one, you'll be familiar with and -- if you're like me -- attached to a number of characters. In most zombie games you're lucky if you learn a few facts about the main protagonist, let alone anyone else.

What: "The Walking Dead: Episodes 1-3"

From: Telltale Games

Rated: M

Who's it for: Fans of intellectual zombie entertainment

Console: Xbox 360/PS3

Grade: A

That's not to say the game falls short on action. Zombies attack from every angle, usually with little warning. It will take sharp reflexes to thrust them aside and find a weapon to dispatch them before you end up fodder.

Initially, I was concerned the game could keep up its momentum with episodes spaced two months apart, but both episode two, "Starved for Help," and episode three, "Long Road Ahead," keep the story and the action moving forward.

It's interesting to see how the characters themselves change as you make your choices and, three episodes in, the game is taking on the feeling of a well-crafted novel.

Adding to the ambiance, the series' cel-shaded, comic book-style graphics pay homage to the original material. The colors are brighter and much more saturated than you'd expect, given the subject matter.

Occasional jittery frame-rates and odd synching problems are occasional issues, but not often enough to be more than a temporary distraction.

The game also benefits from some top-notch voice acting. Characters are well-defined but not overacted, making the performances believable.

The game's biggest problem is the long wait between episodes. Each one takes only a few hours to play through, then it's another two months before your next fix.

It's priced well, with single episodes costing only $5, and a subscription to all five just $20.

Those looking for a solid adventure game should give "The Walking Dead" a try. Who knows, you might even gain a few skills for when the real zombie apocalypse comes?

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